Category: Episodes

377. Sister Rosetta Tharpe

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(January 2022) Episode 377 is SISTER ROSETTA THARPE. I’m not into the gospel message but the music can have a certain power, and is worth studying for its common roots with blues, rock, R&B and soul. Tharpe played an influential role in that history by putting her bluesy electric guitar out front and bringing the music into secular venues.

Favorite album: Gospel Songs

Favorite song: Strange Things Happening Every Day

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: for students of the history of rock and soul

376. Townes Van Zandt

~ ernopepper ~ 1 Comment

(January 2022) Episode 376 is TOWNES VAN ZANDT. Amidst the flowering of new musical styles in the 60s came Van Zandt’s folk-tinged country (or is it country-tinged folk?) with its melancholy tone delivered in his earnest voice. Whatever you call it, it is stellar songwriting. His personal life struggles add a tragic veneer to the music.

Favorite album: Townes Van Zandt

Favorite song: I’ll Be Here In The Morning

Compared to expectations: ↑

Recommendation: yes, for a taste of authentically American music

375. Dengue Fever

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(January 2022) Episode 375 is DENGUE FEVER. I had no idea there was such a thing as Cambodian psychedelic rock until I was introduced to this band. Dengue Fever combines a couple of indie hipsters from LA and a Cambodian immigrant singer. Their music recreates the sound of that scene from the 60s and 70s (until undone by Pol Pot), a mix of surf-style guitar, fuzzy keyboards, world music rhythms and lyrics sung (mostly) in Khmer in a Eastern pentatonic style. It’s an odd mix that works.

Favorite album: Escape from Dragon House

Favorite song:  One Thousand Tears of a Tarantula

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: if you like hearing styles you’ve never heard before

374. Anna Thorvaldsdóttir

~ ernopepper ~ 2 Comments

(December 2021) Episode 374 is ANNA THORVALDSDÓTTIR. Her compositions are like ecosystems of sound, evocative of nature and landscapes – a description you will understand if you’ve been to her native Iceland.  Her music is direct and powerful, often unsettling, and sometime includes electronic and visual elements in an avant-garde approach.

Favorite piece: Aequilibria

Favorite solo piece: Sola

Favorite ensemble piece: Spectra

Favorite vocal piece: Ad Genua

Compared to expectations: ↑

Recommendation: yes

373. Ride

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(December 2021) Episode 373 is RIDE. Their debut album Nowhere was a landmark of shoegaze, albeit more melodic than My Bloody Valentine, and that’s what made me take notice. But they quickly discarded that sound for unremarkable (IMO) alt rock and later lush pop.

Favourite album: Nowhere

Favorite song: Black Nite Crash

Compared to expectations: ↓

Recommendation: just Nowhere

372. Al Green

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(December 2021) Episode 372 is AL GREEN. Simply one of the best soul voices ever.  His early 1970s albums are canon for soul music. He later moved on into religious music which is not my cup of tea. 

Favorite album: I’m Still in Love with You

Favorite song: Take Me To The River

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: early 70s are a must for any soul review

371. Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(December 2021) Episode 371 is NIKOLAI RIMSKY-KORSAKOV. One of the members of the Russian composer version of the Rat Pack, he is considered a master of symphonic orchestration, including the well-known “Scheheradaze.”  He is also known for his operas which incorporate folk and supernaturalism — you’ll recognize the tunes “Procession of the Nobles” and “Flight of the Bumblebee.” His compositions are not soiled by the sappy string sounds that characterize others like Tchaikovsky. 

Favorite piece: Scheheradaze

Favorite opera: The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: a solid choice among romantic-era Russian composers

370. Willie Nelson

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(December 2021) Episode 370 is WILLIE NELSON. An American icon.  His gentle baritone warms up any song. He is incredibly prolific (this episode was almost 100 albums long), including countless collaborations with country heroes, outlaw buddies, family members and pop stars. His music covers almost every style of country as well as pop standards, jazz and gospel. My favorite recordings are the stripped-down affairs, just Willie’s voice, with spare accompaniment, telling plain and earnest stories.

Favorite album: Red-Headed Stranger

Favorite song: Sunday Morning Coming Down

Favorite song written by Willie: Angel Flying Too Close To the Ground

Favorite song written by Willie made famous by someone else: Crazy

Compared to expectations: ↑

Recommendation: required if you wish to absorb the breadth of American music.

Recommended albums: Both Sides Now, Red-Headed Stranger, The Sound In Your Mind, The IRS Tapes, Spirit, Teatro, Songbird, Moment of Forever, Country Music, December Day

369. Unleashed

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(December 2021) Episode 369 is UNLEASHED, another of the ‘big four’ Swedish death metal bands. Consistently loud and fast, with plenty of Viking themes.

Favorite album: Shadows in the Deep

Favorite song: The One Insane

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: essential for any Swedish death metal listeners

368. The Brian Jonestown Massacre

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(November 2021) Episode 368 is THE BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE. It’s impossible to summarize the ever-evolving sound of Anton Newcombe’s ever-evolving project. As the name suggests, at its heart it pays homage to the departed Rolling Stones’ innovator, and much of the music (especially the guitar tone) seems an attempt to pick up where he left off. Lots of neo-psychedelia and shoegazer/slacker rock recorded in undisciplined arrangements, but also experimental, pseudo-soundtrack and other hard-to-characterize stuff.

Favorite album: …And This Is Our Music

Favorite song: Sailor

Compared to expectations: ↓

Recommendation: not for everyone but yes to those who like artists who don’t give a f**k what anyone else thinks. I suggest starting with “Take It From the Man!”